With the advent of brinner and the dizzying popularity of all things bacon, it’s not surprising that all-day breakfast joints like the Parkdale institution Easy Restaurant are doing well. The ultra-laid-back California-inspired spot cut its teeth at the foot of Roncesvalles Village, and last month it set its sights on Little Italy, opening a sister location on College. We dropped by to check it out.

Staying true to the vibe it cultivated at its original location, Easy’s new digs boast a similar assortment of 1970s Americana. Owner Peter Morrison is a self-described car fanatic (in fact, his greatest ambition, he told us, is to own a ’72 Mustang). The modern, clean lines of the space are peppered with gear-head movie posters and muscle car relics. Naturally, the poster for the Dennis Hopper flick Easy Rider holds a special place of honour: the film not only lends its name to the popular Easy Rider breakfast ($8.95), it also sets the tone for the establishment’s ambience.

Rest assured though, the nostalgic references to the 1970s end at the plate—Easy’s menu reflects more modern eating habits. Sure, there are diner classics like steak and eggs ($16.95) and breakfast burritos ($10.95), but in this case they’re made with grass-fed beef and free-range eggs. The huevos divorciados ($12.75) is the house specialty, with two eggs on soft white corn tortillas with refried beans, guacamole, salsa and a spicy-sweet ancho jam. The West Coast toast ($12.95) offers a refreshing take on eggs Benedict with the addition of smoked salmon, dill and black caviar. Not surprisingly, the place has been doing a brisk brunch business on College since it opened.